Jim Towey, new president of Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey visits with students after a press conference announcing his position at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University founder and chancellor Tom Monaghan, center, speaks with the university's new president Jim Towey, left, before a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey is announced during a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey visits with students after a press conference announcing his position at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Michael Timmis, chairman of Ave Maria's Board of Trustees, announces the hiring of Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey during a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey is announced during a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University founder and chancellor Tom Monaghan, center, speaks with the university's new president Jim Towey, left, before a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey visits with students after a press conference announcing his position at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey, center, visits with former president Nicholas Healy, left, and professor Michael Waldstein after a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey listens to founder and chancellor Tom Monaghan speak about his hiring during a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff

Ave Maria University's new president Jim Towey, center, listens to the announcement of his hiring during a press conference at the school's student union on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, in Ave Maria. Towey is a former Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and president of St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania. David Albers/Staff